Steve Holland: The Next England Manager?

If you are a fan of English football, you must have heard of Steve Holland. He is the current assistant manager of the England national team and has been working closely with Gareth Southgate since 2016. He is also a former coach of Chelsea, where he won several trophies under different managers. But who is Steve Holland and what makes him a potential candidate to become the next England manager?

Steve Holland was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 1970. He started his football career as a player, but he never made it to the professional level. He suffered a serious knee injury at the age of 21 and decided to pursue coaching instead. He obtained his UEFA Pro Licence in 1998 and joined Crewe Alexandra as a youth coach. He worked his way up to become the first-team manager in 2007, but he was sacked in 2008 after a poor run of results.

Holland then moved to Chelsea as a reserve team coach in 2009. He impressed the club’s hierarchy with his tactical knowledge and his ability to work with young players. He was promoted to become the assistant first-team coach in 2011 and worked under several managers, including Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, Rafael Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Antonio Conte. He helped Chelsea win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and one Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

In 2016, Holland joined the England national team as an assistant manager to Gareth Southgate. He played a key role in England’s success at the 2018 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990. He also helped England qualify for the 2020 European Championship, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is widely regarded as Southgate’s right-hand man and his trusted confidant.

So what are the strengths and weaknesses of Steve Holland as a potential successor to Southgate? Here are some of them:

Strengths:

  • He has a wealth of experience at both club and international level. He has worked with some of the best players and managers in the world and knows how to handle different situations and personalities.
  • He has a clear vision and philosophy of how he wants his teams to play. He favours an attractive and attacking style of football that is based on possession, movement and creativity.
  • He has a good rapport with the current England players and staff. He knows their strengths and weaknesses and how to get the best out of them. He is also respected and liked by them for his professionalism and honesty.
  • He has a passion and pride for representing his country. He is committed to developing English talent and promoting a positive image of English football.

Weaknesses:

  • He lacks managerial experience at the highest level. He has only managed one club in his career, Crewe Alexandra, and he was not successful there. He has never been in charge of a team at a major tournament or faced intense pressure and scrutiny from the media and fans.
  • He may be too loyal to Southgate and his methods. He may not be able to assert his own authority and identity as a manager and may struggle to make tough decisions or changes when needed.
  • He may face competition from other candidates who have more credentials or charisma than him. Some of the names that have been linked with the England job include Brendan Rodgers, Eddie Howe, Frank Lampard and even Arsene Wenger.
  • He may not want to leave his current role as an assistant manager. He may be happy with his position and enjoy working with Southgate. He may not have the ambition or desire to take on such a big challenge.

Conclusion:

Steve Holland is undoubtedly one of the most qualified and respected coaches in English football. He has done a great job as an assistant manager for both Chelsea and England and has contributed to their success over the years. However, becoming the England manager is a different proposition altogether. It requires not only tactical acumen and coaching skills, but also leadership qualities, media savvy and mental strength. It is not clear if Holland has all these attributes or if he even wants the job in the first place. Therefore, while he may be a good option for England in the future, he may not be ready or willing to take over from Southgate